Illness changes man's life in a matter of months

SPRINGFIELD - Christmas for Michael Reierson will not be nearly as bright as his future appeared to be three months ago.

The 26-year-old man had a new job and was attending classes in hopes of setting the foundation for a successful career.

Months earlier, Michael had returned to the Courthouse Road home of his father, Gary Reierson. They enjoyed a close relationship while the son talked about becoming a union carpenter like his father had been.

Things changed quickly in late September. While driving nails at a job, he received a telephone call that hit harder than a hammer.

"The clinic called me and referred me to a Savannah doctor," said Michael. "That was the first mention of cancer."

His life since then has been tumultuous, hazy at times, a combination of pain and stress that has left him reeling.

"It all happened so fast, it has taken a lot out of him," said the elder Reierson of his son's experience.

"The main thing is the cancer appears to be gone," the father said. "He hasn't been able to work, and the medical bills are very high.

"But at least I still have my son," Gary Reierson said.

Gerald Riner, president and apprenticeship coordinator at the Carpenters and Millwrights Union Local 256 in Savannah, said he hopes Michael can eventually return to carpentry. That will be physically challenging, he said.

"There is no such thing as light duty in carpentry," said Riner. "There is a lot of lifting and climbing. Everything we do is physical."

After attending college in South Carolina, Michael moved in July to the house near Springfield he previously shared with his father. A month later he joined the carpenters' union, worked days as an apprentice and attended union-certified classes at night.

Michael's attitude was evident in his approach to work and training.

"Michael was a guy who asked a lot of questions," said Riner. "He wanted to learn everything about carpentry."

In September, a nagging tender spot in Michael's groin was a minor concern and he went to the clinic at the end of a work week. He was referred to Effingham Hospital for an ultrasound on Sept. 23 on what appeared to be an inflamed testicle.

Two days later, Michael was starting another work week when a urologist's office called and said he had a tumor that required the immediate removal of a testicle.

"I didn't think there would be a problem," Michael recalled. "But about a week later, I returned to the urologist and he said it was malignant."

A CAT scan and second opinion supported the first doctor's advice that the remaining testicle and considerable lymph nodes from the lower chest to pelvis should be removed.

"The doctor said there was a 90 percent chance the surgery would be successful," Michaelsaid. "Both of the doctors I saw said chemotherapy should not be considered, it was not an option."

Michael checked into a Savannah hospital on Oct. 30 and stayed there for a week after the surgery.

A six-week recovery period recently passed, but Reierson remains sore and relatively weak due to the extent of the operation.

During his treatment, doctors told Michael not to worry about the expense involved. They said charitable organizations for cancer victims and other groups would probably help.

But there has been no assistance with the bills that started with a $40,000 hospital tab and has grown to more than $70,000.

"We are just working people and we can't afford those kinds of bills," said Gary Reierson. "He had not been working long enough to get insurance and (cancer support organizations) said they don't have funds for those kind of expenses."

Gary Reierson recently set up a fund to help pay his son's medical bills. Donations can be made at Effingham Bank and Trust branches in the name of the Michael Reierson Cancer Fund.

The cancer ordeal has drained Gary Reierson but he says Christmas could be worse.

"The doctors are pretty sure the cancer won't come back," the father said. "I want to help him pay his medical bills, but I don't know how.

"Michael is alive," Gary Reierson said. "He is still sore, but the cancer has been removed.

"I have my son and that is what's important."

Want to help?

Contributions may be made to the Michael Reierson Cancer Fund at any branch of Effingham Bank and Trust.